Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-6-3001

• (a) The public schools are free to all persons residing within the state who are above five (5) years of age, or who will become five (5) years of age on or before August 15.

• (b)
  • (1) Any child residing within the state who is five (5) years of age, or who will become five (5) years of age on or before August 15, may enter the public school designated by the local board of education having appropriate jurisdiction at the beginning of the term; provided, that the child enters within thirty (30) days after the opening day of the term.
  • (2)
    • (A) Any child who will not become five (5) years of age until after December 31 shall not enter school during that school year; provided, that LEAs having semiannual promotions may admit, at the beginning of any semester, children who will become five (5) years of age within sixty (60) days following the opening of the semester.
    • (B) Notwithstanding subdivision (b)(2)(A), if the director of schools finds through evaluation and testing, at the request of the parent or legal guardian, that a child who is five (5) years of age on or before September 30 is sufficiently mature emotionally and academically, then the child may be permitted to enter kindergarten.
  • (3) Where a student meets the requirements of the state board of education for transfer or admission purposes, the student may be admitted by a local board of education, notwithstanding any other provision or act to the contrary.

• (c)
  • (1) Every parent, guardian or other legal custodian residing within this state having control or charge of any child or children between six (6) years of age and seventeen (17) years of age, both inclusive, shall cause the child or children to attend public or nonpublic school, and in event of failure to do so, shall be subject to the penalties provided in this part. If a student transfers from a school to another school in the same LEA, the LEA shall remit copies of the student's records, including the student's disciplinary records, to the school to which the student transfers. If a student transfers from an LEA to another LEA, then the LEA from which a student transfers shall remit copies of the student's records, including the student's disciplinary records, to the LEA to which the student transfers. All records shall be remitted in accordance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (20 U.S.C. § 1232g).
  • (2) Subdivision (c)(1) does not apply to any child who:
    • (A) Has received a diploma or other certificate of graduation issued to the person from a secondary high school of this state or any other state;
    • (B) Is enrolled and making satisfactory progress in a course leading to a high school equivalency credential approved by the state board of education from a state-approved institution or organization, or who has obtained a high school equivalency credential approved by the state board of education. Any institution or organization that enrolls a child who is under eighteen (18) years of age shall provide a report to the local board of education at least three (3) times each year relative to the progress of all such persons under eighteen (18) years of age. If the local board of education determines any child under eighteen (18) years of age is not making satisfactory progress, then the child shall be subject to subdivision (c)(1);
    • (C) Is six (6) years of age or younger and whose parent or guardian has filed a notice of intent to conduct a home school with the director of the LEA or with the director of a church-related school; or
    • (D) A student enrolled in a home school who has reached seventeen (17) years of age.
  • (3) As used in this part, "public school" and "nonpublic school" are defined as follows:
    • (A) "Nonpublic school" means a church-related school, home school or private school;
      • (i) "Church-related school" means a school as defined in § 49-50-801;
      • (ii) "Home school" means a school as defined in § 49-6-3050; and
      • (iii) "Private school" means a school accredited by, or a member of, an organization or association approved by the state board of education as an organization accrediting or setting academic requirements in schools, or that has been approved by the state, or is in the future approved by the commissioner in accordance with rules promulgated by the state board of education; and
    • (B) "Public school" means any school operated by an LEA or by the state with public funds.
  • (4) A parent or guardian with any good and substantial reason as determined by the parent or other person having legal custody of a child, and agreed to by the respective local board of education, may withdraw the parent's or other person's child from a public school; provided, that within thirty (30) days the parent or person having legal custody of the child places the child in a public school designated by the local board of education or in a nonpublic school.
  • (5) A parent or guardian who believes that the parent's or guardian's child is not ready to attend school at the designated age of mandatory attendance may make application to the principal of the public school that the child would attend for a one (1) semester or one (1) year deferral in required attendance. The deferral shall be reported to the director of the LEA by the principal.
  • (6) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, a person designated as a caregiver with the power of attorney for care of a minor child pursuant to title 34, chapter 6, part 3 shall have the right to enroll the minor child in the LEA serving the area where the caregiver resides. The LEA shall allow a caregiver with a properly executed power of attorney for care of a minor child, pursuant to title 34, chapter 6, part 3, to enroll the minor child, but may require documentation of the minor child's residence with a caregiver or documentation or other verification of the validity of the stated hardship prior to enrollment. If the minor child ceases to reside with the caregiver, then the caregiver shall notify any person, school or health care provider that has been provided documentation of the power of attorney for care of a minor child. Except where limited by federal law, the caregiver shall be assigned the rights, duties and responsibilities that would otherwise be assigned to the parent, legal guardian or legal custodian pursuant to this title. If at any time the parent or legal guardian disagrees with the decision of the caregiver or chooses to make any educational decisions for the minor child, then the parent must revoke the power of attorney and provide the LEA written documentation of the revocation.

Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 114, s 27, eff. 7/1/2023.

Amended by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 493, Secs.s 23, s 24, s 25 eff. 5/25/2021.

Amended by 2015 Tenn. Acts, ch. 445, s 1, eff. 5/18/2015.

Amended by 2014 Tenn. Acts, ch. 692, s 1, eff. 7/1/2014.

Amended by 2013 Tenn. Acts, ch. 85, s 2, eff. 4/8/2013.

Acts 1925, ch. 115, § 19; Shan. Supp., § 1487a141; Code 1932, § 2472; Acts 1947, ch. 87, § 1; 1947, ch. 129, § 1; C. Supp. 1950, §§ 2383.1, 2442.1 (Williams, § 2472.1); Acts 1957, ch. 9, § 1; 1959, ch. 289, § 1; 1965, ch. 239, § 1; 1965, ch. 303, §§ 1, 2; 1968, ch. 417, §§ 1, 2; 1972, ch. 693, § 13; 1974, ch. 654, §§ 79-81; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), §§ 49-1701, 49-1702, 49-1708; Acts 1985, ch. 398, § 1; 1987, ch. 42, § 1; 1992, ch. 535, §§ 78, 81; 1997 , ch. 329, § 1; 1997 , ch. 392, §§ 1, 2, 5, 10; 1998, ch. 792, § 1; 2003 , ch. 71, § 3; 2012 , ch. 991, §§ 2 - 5.